Hampshire Pig — The Complete Guide: Everything You Need to Know

The Hampshire pig, legend has it, is associated with royalty. Statues and sculptures modeled after a Hampshire pig can be found at several places in the country of England.

These fascinating pigs could have been of royal blood and we never knew!

There are more interesting facts about the Hampshire pigs and this guide will provide everything you need to know about them.

History and Origins

Before the Hampshire pig, there were Hampshire hogs. “Pig” and “Hog” is technically the same thing, but pigs are called “hogs” when they weigh more than 54 kilograms (120 pounds).

In the past, Hampshire hogs inhabited the forests of the Hampshire County hundreds of years ago.

The Hampshire hogs were exported to the United States of America between the years 1827 and 1839. Since then, the breed of hog eventually became just a breed of “pig”.

Despite the decrease in weight, the American Hampshire Pig still became successful in terms of favor.

The remaining Hampshire pigs left in their original hometown later developed into the Wessex Saddleback breed of pigs.

The once Hampshire hog that is now known as Hampshire pig was an excellently balanced breed. They grow fast, but not as fast as a few others. They have a lot of good traits but also possess a few bad traits.

Hampshire pigs are still being used to this day for breeding purposes as well as livestock use.

Extra history: Royal Prey

Hundreds of years ago, the Hampshire hogs inhabited the forests of the Hampshire County which is part of England that had a monarchical system since old times.

They were often hunted by man and they are said to be great targets for being swift when it comes to fleeing but deadly when striking and defending.

900 years ago, King William II, known also as King William Rufus frequently hunted wild deer and wild boars within the deep woods of the New Forest, within Hampshire County.

Since Hampshire hogs are the most common breed found in those areas, it is believed that it was a Hampshire hog, now pig, is one of the late King’s favorite prey.

There were stories about King William Rufus and how he killed a wild boar instead of a stag (wild deer) in his dream that actually turned out to be a premonition dream about his own death.

This alternate story actually goes against the known “Forest Law” established for the New Forest. The law stated that if you kill a deer, you would be put to death — which is what happened to King William Rufus’s actual dream.

Majority of the stories found online are only about a stag which is why another alternate story of the King being mortally wounded by a hog (that is possibly the Hampshire hog) several years before his actual death also became popular rumors.

The thing about Hampshire pigs being a royal breed is just something born out of this story involving the red king, William Rufus of England.

Anatomy and Physical Appearance

The Hampshire pig have a distinct trait that makes them stand out from other common breeds and that is their striped color.

The rest of their bodies are covered in black hair while the front legs and the first few parts of their back down to their chest area have a straight line of white or pink.

The current American breed of Hampshire pigs is a medium to large sized breed but this unique color pattern in their body is what makes Hampshire pigs easy to distinguish.

Their hair is usually very thin which makes their skin easily visible. They may appear to have a “silky / glossy coat” because of their smooth skin and thin hair.

COLORS — There are times when you may encounter a different colored Hampshire pig, they may be white and ginger in color and may still vary depending on which breed they were crossbred with.

HEAD — Hampshire pigs commonly have medium sized heads that usually appear straight and slim when observed from a specific angle. They also have small eyes with poor eyesight.

EARS — The ears are usually medium in length and they are pricked up ears.

SNOUT (THE NOSE) — Hampshire pigs have small to medium sized, upturned noses. Pigs are born with excellent sense of smell which is why their snouts can be quite sensitive to touch.

WEIGHT — The average weight for a matured male Hampshire pig could grow up to 300 kilos (1322 lb) while a female could only be around 250 kilos (or 551 lb)

TEETH — Hampshire pigs will have normal and non-sharp teeth but can still bite really hard onto food. All pigs usually get their needle sharp teeth clipped moments or hours after birth.

The sharp teeth get replaced by normal teeth afterwards.

TUSKS — all pigs grow tusks including domestic breeds like Hampshire pigs. Male or female, wild or domestic, there are no exceptions.

Females usually have shorter or smaller tusks that rarely grow long or large enough to stick out of their mouths. Because of this trait, it was one of the easy ways to identify the gender of the pigs in the wild.

The tusks serve as a pig’s offensive and defensive weapon. However, domestic pigs usually have their tusks completely removed as it serves no purpose in captivity.

For those who may not be aware, the tusk is actually part of the jawbones and is considered part of the teeth. This means that if you cut off their tusks, it will not grow back.

However, trimming is a different task and is only done to care for the pig.

NAILS AND HOOVES — The Hampshire pigs also have hooves and “dewclaws” that may need trimming. On an average, a pig should have trimming at least once a year.

Indoor pigs will require more trimming while outdoor pigs that have a stable, solid footing may only require lesser trimming sessions.

TAIL — Hampshire pigs often have short and curly tails. There is no actual explanation why pigs or hogs curl their tails but there are a lot of theories as to why they do.

The only known purpose of a pig’s tail is to drive away insects like flies. It is to reach the areas their legs and mouth cannot reach.

Curious why pigs have curly tails? We have an article about that for you here.

Characteristics and Personality

The Hampshire breed may sound like a high maintenance pet, but you’ll be surprised by how complex their personalities can be in both good and bad ways.

There is no denying that they are amazing pets and owners get their own benefits out of raising one. The pros and cons will be explained in detail at the bottom, so read on!

Just like most breeds of pigs, the Hampshire pigs are friendly and social animals.

These pigs are well balanced in terms of personality which is why they can also make great pets.

They are active animals in a way that will not make their owners worry because these hogs have amazing mothering skills, great foraging skills and thrive better than other breeds of pigs.

They can be quite independent and left alone in a secured environment.

Intelligent creatures

Did you know that pigs or hogs are so intelligent, they ranked fifth among the most intelligent animals in the world? Even the Hampshire pigs are proven to be as smart as their large counterparts.

They are also capable of outsmarting chimpanzees, one of the top smartest animals we’ve ever known! Many people also say they can be smarter than dogs.

The intelligence of hogs such as the Hampshire pig makes them popular as pets. This also makes them unique from other regular pets.

Hampshire pigs can also really surprise you with their great memory as well as how fast they can learn and pick up hints about certain things.

Aside from ranking fifth in the world ranking, scientific studies and research also stated that an average hog have the same intelligence level as a 2 year old human child.

They discovered that pigs can have better focus and produce a higher success rate when it comes to tests and challenges unlike dogs and chimps.

Not all dogs can learn as fast as a pig can, as some dogs are known to be stubborn or even be full of pride. Although they are usually submissive, many dogs can be stubborn when it comes to training.

Unlike pigs that seem to naturally learn without feeling forced. They tend to learn faster because of their ability to focus better. Pigs are a naturally obedient animal when raised or tamed properly.

The advantage of being a prey

Another reason why hogs like the Hampshire pigs have such great intelligence compared to others is because they are prey animals.

Despite being domesticated, most animal breeds still retain their wild and natural traits.

Most pets that we have kept and raised are predator animals like cats and dogs so now we are being surprised by a prey like hogs and their capabilities.

Prey animals need to be on alert more than predators and thus, may develop a more sensitive way of living. They need to be smarter than their swift and strong predators.

Pigs possibly learned to enhance their intelligence by adapting and learning how to outsmart their predators.

Predators do not have to be on guard most of the time, they are usually comfortable anywhere and don’t struggle as hard as a prey when searching for food.

I have a personal saying regarding this aspect in life. The poor may be poor, but they can definitely be wiser than the rich.

It’s because when you are always on edge, you become desperate to cling on for survival. While those who are at the top have it easy and tend to forget the meaning of challenges.

When life is hard, it teaches you to become strong. Even if they are prey animals, if their minds are strong, their chances of survivability will definitely increase.

They can be house trained

Many owners say they can learn even faster than dogs. The Hampshire pigs or just pigs in general, can be house trained. They may learn how to use the litter box, play fetch and do several other tricks.

It has been proven that the “treat rewarding” method works very well with pigs when training them.

Compassionate

In relation to their intelligence, the Hampshire breed of pigs is capable of being compassionate. Their smart brains allow them to feel both negative and positive emotions.

This means that they can also feel pain, become depressed, be excited and many more! Because of this, many people are convinced that the cruel treatment towards livestock pigs should come to an end.

They can sense grief

Hampshire pigs are capable of sensing grief from other animals, their companions or their human owners. When they do, they have a tendency to console them for comfort.

They are aware when a companion passes away or when they get left behind or abandoned. They can be sad, depressed and lonely to the point of crying real tears when mourning their loss or simply missing something or someone.

They can be sensitive

Since they have almost the same mentality or intelligence level as a child, you can expect them to behave similarly to a child. Hampshire pigs can grow easily bored when isolated or irritable when kept in an uncomfortable place and more.

Despite their discomfort, they are rarely violent. They will never attack unless deeply provoked or feel extremely cornered.

When a pig is mistreated or abused, they WILL remember it. They know how to hold grudges, remember the faces of their abusers but they can also be grateful and remember those who cared for them.

This is part of the reason why they are lovely pets, because they exhibit a behavior where the owners must be emotionally prepared as pigs can be emotionally sensitive too.

Breeding and Life Expectancy

Hampshire pigs can become sexually matured at six to seven months of age like most hogs or pigs. They are normally bred around six months or one year of age.

Offspring

Hampshire pigs are commonly expected to have 7 up to 14 piglets when giving birth.

Fully grown pigs can rarely give birth to 20 to 25 pigs, but it is possible. The average number of piglets that can be born from most breeds starts at 5 piglets up to 10 piglets.

If you’re interested in learning more about breeding, you can check our article about that here.

Life expectancy

The Hampshire pig’s average life expectancy is 15 years up to 20 years.

As long as they are healthy and well cared for, a pig or a hog can live longer than expected.

Habitat and Environment

Just like most pigs, Hampshire pigs would prefer areas with rich pastures, sufficient food sources, fresh and clean water to drink and access to ponds or a muddy area to keep cool.

They should also have access to shelter that can shield them from severe weather conditions like strong winds, storms or extreme heat.

Natural habitat

In general, the wild habitat for most hogs or pigs generally moist forests, swamps and woodlands, especially oak forests and regions where seeds are abundant.

Environment

All hogs or pigs including the Hampshire pig will prefer to inhabit places with favorable climate. Although they function better under cool temperatures, they can still be sensitive to severe cold or extreme heat.

If you’re looking to keep one as a pet, you must read on to understand their preferred environment when under captivity.

They are prey animals and need to be kept away from possible predators. If they have a wide space to graze outside, there must be fences to keep out animals like wolves, coyotes or even regular stray dogs.

Like every other hog or pig, Hampshire pigs have a hard time cooling off because of their inability to sweat. Because of this, they should be placed in an area that can keep them cool.

Again, they are sensitive to harsh weather conditions and thus must be protected from extreme heat and severe cold. They must be shielded from rain and any kind of storms.

Space

Did you know that obesity is one of the most common issues among pet pigs? This can be avoiding by providing them enough space is necessary in order for them to get the exercise they need.

Hogs or pigs are also curious and outgoing creatures and would prefer living outdoors rather than staying cooped up. If kept as indoor pets, it is best to provide them enough space.

If they do not have enough space or freedom to roam and explore, they may become depressed.

Depending on the number of other pigs that will live with them, a pig or a hog the size of the Hampshire pig should be able to have a pen of at least 2 meters in size.

If they are being kept as indoor pets, the best solution is to give them access to at least one or two rooms to give them comfort.

Know more about how much space most pigs need by reading our article about it here.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Every animal including man has their own imperfections. All pets will have their own pros and cons. The Hampshire pigs have more pros than cons, but of course, it’s important to learn what they are to fully understand their breed.

These pros and cons are applicable to many other breeds of pigs as they all exhibit similar traits and behavior. If you have read most of our articles, you may find these details similar with each other.

The explanation behind it is because all pigs have a similar nature which makes them little to no different with each other.

PROS	CONS
Not a picky eater	Prone to diseases if not careful!
Good as pets	Can be spoiled and stubborn
Social animals	Can be sensitive
Clean animals	Needs enough space

PROS

1. Not a picky eater

Pigs of any breed including Hampshire pigs have an opportunistic mentality when it comes to feeding. As long as it looks edible, they will accept and eat it.

They have what we call a “stomach of steel” which means they can eat almost anything without getting sick from it.

However, just because they can eat anything including junk, doesn’t mean we should feed them with just anything. Certain food can still be harmful to their health and will weaken their immune system.

Read “What can I feed my Pig” if you’re curious to know about what pigs can eat and should not eat.

2. Good as pets

Regardless of gender, Hampshire pigs make good pets because of their fondness towards human contact, interacting with new things and being peacefully active unlike other breeds where certain male pigs could develop territorial behavior.

3. Social animals

Aside from being generally kind, a Hampshire pig is also capable of getting along well with other pets like cats. They can get along with dogs too, but it’s safer to leave them with animals that are close to them in size.

Dogs may be as large as a large breed of pigs, but they are clearly more powerful than pigs and can cause unwanted injuries or accidents when put together.

As long as you are comfortable that your dogs won’t hurt your Hampshire pig, they can definitely be great friends too.

Pigs can be great companions or playmates for your kids and other house pets which is why they deserve to be treated with love.

4. Clean animals

Unlike what we originally thought of them, Hampshire pigs are clean and prefer to keep their living area clean too.

As much as possible, they will assign a corner to become their toilet area in order to avoid soiling their living space.

They will enjoy baths and prefer water more than mud. Most pigs only rolled around in mud to keep cool because it’s the only thing they can do when there is no pond of water around them.

CONS

1. Prone to diseases if not careful

The disadvantage of being a non-picky eater is the risk of eating a harmful food that can infect their systems.

Hampshire pigs can eat anything including scrap food, junk, rotten food, spoiled food, decomposing food and decaying carcasses.

This is why it’s important to supervise your pig during feeding time and secure their feeding area and always keep it clean.

They are also strictly prohibited from eating meat (including any other meat products and food that has had contact with meat) as it is the easiest way for them to be infected by a disease that may be transmitted to humans.

You can read our article entitled “Can Pigs eat Meat?” if you would like to have more information about this topic.

2. Can be spoiled and stubborn

Since Hampshire pigs have a wide range of emotions, they also have bad sides too. They can be stubborn if you spoil them too bad and become destructive as mentioned earlier.

Destructive behavior in adult Hampshire pigs can be a sign of stress, depression or a way to express their playfulness if they are still young.

If you think your pig is behaving deeply negative, it’s important to get them checked as it could be their only way of expressing internal pain that we usually do not notice until it gets worse!

Negative behavior is also a sign of mistreatment and abuse. This behavior can easily be corrected with proper training and discipline. An abused pig needs love and patience in order for them to heal and recover.

3. Can be sensitive

Did you know that raising your voice can also leave a bad impact on your pigs? The Hampshire pigs are no exception to this. For some, they might perceive it as a hostile behavior.

Little actions such as slight hitting will also be remembered by your pet pig. They remember a lot of things, be it good or negative.

Leaving them alone for long hours can also be unhealthy when your Hampshire pig doesn’t have enough space to explore or companions to interact with.

To some, it may be similar to leaving a child alone.

This is why, people who plan to own Hampshire pigs should be aware of their emotional sensitivity. Remember, your piggy friend remembers!

4. Needs enough space

This has been mentioned many times in this thread. But yes, many first time owners are not aware that pigs need space! Other animals may tolerate being kept in one spot, but not Hampshire pigs.

They might try to make several escapes or even attempt to break through obstacles just to get to freedom. If they do not try to be free, they will become lonely and depressed.

This is why it’s frequently mentioned in order to remind potential owners that they need to be ready for adjusting their homes and make it “pig-proof”!

It might take some effort which is why it is considered as a disadvantage when owning a pig.

Read about a similar topic in order to get an idea how to pig proof your home. Read: “Keeping a Pig Indoors”